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The Cuban theater is in mourning following the passing of Gilberto Subiaurt López, actor, playwright and director, which occurred last Saturday in Matanzas, Cuba, after years of battling illnesses.
Born on November 6, 1958, in Unión de Reyes, Matanzas province, Subiaurt has accumulated more than 35 years of artistic career and has become a central figure in the contemporary Cuban scene.
The National Council of the Performing Arts was the one who officially announced his passing and expressed institutional condolences: "His artistic legacy was forged in important groups such as Teatro D Sur, Teatro El Mirón Cubano, Teatro El Público, and Teatro Icarón; as well as in television, where he participated in telenovelas, adventure programs, and teleplays that are part of our country's audiovisual memory."
He was not an artist of a single register. He was an actor, playwright, and director, and in each of those roles, he left a lasting mark.
He made his acting debut in 1995 with the play Condenados, which also marked the beginning of his career in playwriting. That piece transcended borders and was also performed in Miami.
As a playwright, his most recognized work was Edith, a play about the life of the French singer Edith Piaf, premiered in 1997 and considered a landmark of theater in Matanzas. It was included in the Museum of Wooden Sculptures of Cuban Dramaturgy and celebrated its 25th anniversary with a tribute at the Casa de la Memoria Escénica in Matanzas in September 2022.
The National Council of the Performing Arts emphasized that, as a playwright, "he left behind an invaluable body of work, with titles such as Edith, the most awarded of his authorship, as well as Condenados, Aire, Tierra, among others, which were staged or published both in Cuba and the United States."
On television, he participated in the soap opera Si me pudieras querer (1998), the teleplay La casa vieja (1999), and the series El medallón (2004), in addition to portraying the character Leonardo in the soap opera Viceversa.
He also performed in The Beggar's Opera and Concert for Brecht, under the direction of José Milián. The actor Arístides Naranjo García dedicated an emotional message to him: "How much I feel your departure, Gilberto Subiaurt! I will never forget your presence in The Beggar's Opera and Concert for Brecht. Embrace in light! Safe travels, friend!".
His influence also extended to the training of new generations, teaching classes at the Escuela Profesional de Arte, where, according to the National Council of Performing Arts, "he shared his wisdom and passion for the stage."
The passing of Subiaurt occurs during a period of significant losses for the Cuban artistic world: in February of this year, actor Alden Knight passed away and in January, Manolo Villaverde died at the age of 91.
His ashes will be laid to rest this Monday at the Social House of the UNEAC in Matanzas.
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